Only two years ago, JC Escarra considered leaving baseball. He drove Uber and worked as a replacement teacher in Miami, while independent baseball played in an attempt to keep his Major League dreams alive.
Everything that has changed in the room of two weeks.
Last Thursday the 29-year-old stood together with Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. In pinstripes. After years of unrest, Escarra was a New York Yankee on the opening day.
“It's hard to put into words,” Escarra told DailyMail.com. “I'm still on Cloud Nine. It has been my dream since I was small, and now I have been living it out, especially with the New York Yankees. It wasn't easy, so I enjoy it a little more. '
Escarra was a 15th round pick from the Baltimore Orioles in 2017 and spent almost five years in the Minor League system of Orioles before being released at the end of spring training in 2022.
But he didn't give up. Escarra hurried. He played independent baseball in Mexico and Puerto Rico while working two jobs after he was married in 2022. His wife Jocelyn, who expects their first baby, also worked several jobs to make ends meet.
JC Escarra lived his dream on MLB Openingsdag as a New York Yankee
After three years of unrest, the 29-year-old finally received his call to the Major League
After being married to his wife Jocelyn in 2022, he worked as a Uber driver and a replacement teacher
Escarra eventually signed a Minor League contract with the Yankees in January 2024 and spent the season with the Double-A of the organization and triple-a branches.
But two weeks ago he finally received the call. He went to the Bronx. “You go to the Big Leagues,” manager Aaron Boone said the catcher after a strong spring training.
Many big names, including New York Legends CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, have contacted to congratulate the catcher on earning his stripes, but Escarra's first run -up port? His mother, Marinelys.
In a video that has since become viral, Escarra was recorded by breaking the news to his mother, who released a squeak of pleasure.
“It was just an ordinary day,” Die Marinelys, who joined her son during an appearance in the Flagshipstore of Cane in Times Square for an appearance for the chain, remembered.
“I did my homework and when he called, I spoke with my mother. I answered it and it was normal until he told me the news. Then I started to scream and cry at the same time, “she added.
Every mother would be proud to see his son step on the board, but after seeing her boy from Rockbottom going to the big competitions, Marinelys admitted that it meant something more.
“I was able to see him when he was down and when he was finished, and his strength and perseverance to keep fighting. If there is a victory, you must always have work. So you have to have the fight to see what is coming, “she explained, emotion that crawls into her voice while the tears threatened to return.
Escarra's mother Marinelys (left) went viral for her response to her son who secured his schedule
“I kept crying until I came to the stadium,” she added emotionally.
Escarra's own arrival in Yankee Stadium was wearing a lot of emotion. When it was time to make the journey from his Midtown Hotel to 161st Street for the opening day, Escarra called for a car – a Uber to be precise.
It was a complete circle moment, he stood on it. “From what I experienced and what I had to do to get where I am today is really special with an Uber ride to the stadium for my first Major League match,” he said.
Yet even the first basic line was and sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner' while the ruling al-champions started their search for World Series defense, it still didn't really feel.
Escarra compared the 'euphoric' experience with a leading role in a film. And his fairy tale has all the start of a Hollywood cash cracker – one for which he has already chosen the lead role.
'Everyone likes a good story. So the use of my story to make a film to be inspiring for everyone who is there would be great, “he admitted.
'Because it doesn't really matter whether it is baseball or not, it is more about inspiring people to keep haunting their dreams by hardships. So I hope there is a film in the near future.
“From my head, Brad Pitt or Jake Gyllenhaal I like to see, so if they can play me one day, it will be quite cool.”
The 29-year-old compared his experience with a Feel Good Hollywood-Blockbuster
Escarra enjoyed a complete circle moment when he made an Uber ride to Yankee Stadium
And the start of the Yankees of the season also had the entrails of a sale of a silver screen. The Bronx bombers wipe the Milwaukee Bewers to open their 2025 campaign, including 20-9 and 12-3 victories.
The Yankees have since dropped two games on the Arizona Diamondbacks, but Escarra insisted that they would bring a championship ring back to the Big Apple.
“We just see what we as a team are able and know that we can have such games,” he said. 'We know we have a great team. We are the New York Yankees, we are proud of that.
'I think it's just a good step in the season that we will have. Start hot and becomes even hotter. We try to bring that ring back to New York City, and that's what we are going to do. '
Although the bats of the Yankees have started, they have also been controversial. Some of the pinstripes, including Chishholm Jr. And Anthony Volpe, have used new bats designed by a former physics professor.
The torpedo baten, which contain wood around the label area of ​​the bat in contrast to the barrel, have broken several records and criticizes with their success.
Barrstool Sports Chief Dave Portnoy has led the recoil against the wood after the dominance of the Yankees' opening series, but Escarra has now beaten back.
“We've been using them for a while. It's nothing new, “he kept full. “We are not the only ones they use. There are a number of other teams they use.
The new torpedo bats from the Yankees have drawn a lot of recoil. Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Escarra said that the experience was made more special by the fact that he and Jocelyn expect
'At the end of the day I find no big difference. You still have to swing the bat and hit the ball in the barrel. It's just small things that boys try to get better, and that's where the game goes.
'It doesn't really matter, as long as MLB approves them they have. They are completely legal. Everyone could use them, so it's honest game.
“I could tell you personally that it doesn't necessarily let you get the ball further or harder, but maybe it's mentally.”
Escarra made his debut on March 29 for the second game of the season, but did not have too much opportunity to use the torpedo bats themselves. He only had two performances on the record and played back to Austin Wells in the middle of the catch depth of the Yankees.
Instead, he has adapted to the Big Apple and has recorded the 'crazy' lifestyle with his parents, wife, Jocelyn and their soon new addition to the family.
“Having our first baby at the same time I live my dream is very special for us,” Escarra said.
'I am glad that I am not the only one who will experience it. I have my mother here and my father here, my wife, our little baby boy, that is this way. We will all enjoy it together. '
